MSF's publications are an expression of our belief in the principle of témoignage, or bearing witness, and the belief that we are accountable to those we work for and with. Sharing news about our activities and reflecting on them, offering critiques when necessary, are therefore crucial aspects of our work.

By Thierry Allafort-Duverger, general director of the French section of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). A version of this article originally appeared in Le Monde on November 30. This article has been translated from French.

Libyan authorities must immediately end the arbitrary detention of refugees, asylum-seekers, and migrants, the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said today, decrying the dire, unhealthy, and abusive conditions in detention centers.

"Libya is a very dangerous place. There are a lot of armed people. People are killed and kidnappings are common. Arriving in Tripoli, we were locked in a house with 600 to 700 other people. We had no water to wash ourselves, we had very little food, and we were forced to sleep on top of each other. It was very difficult for my daughter—she fell sick many times. There was a lot of violence. I was beaten with bare hands, with sticks, and with guns. If you move, they beat you. If you talk, they beat you. We spent months like that, being beaten every day."

By Thierry Allafort-Duverger, general director of the French section of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). A version of this article originally appeared in Le Monde on November 30. This article has been translated from French.

Libyan authorities must immediately end the arbitrary detention of refugees, asylum-seekers, and migrants, the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said today, decrying the dire, unhealthy, and abusive conditions in detention centers.

"Libya is a very dangerous place. There are a lot of armed people. People are killed and kidnappings are common. Arriving in Tripoli, we were locked in a house with 600 to 700 other people. We had no water to wash ourselves, we had very little food, and we were forced to sleep on top of each other. It was very difficult for my daughter—she fell sick many times. There was a lot of violence. I was beaten with bare hands, with sticks, and with guns. If you move, they beat you. If you talk, they beat you. We spent months like that, being beaten every day."